LEC 2 Regulatory Framework

• Environmental Impact Assessment


  A process to identify, predict, evaluate and mitigate the biophysical, social, and other relevant effects of development proposals prior to major decisions being taken and commitments made
• Chapters


  • Environmental Regulatory Framework
  • Project Description
  • Environmental Setting
• Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System (PEISS)


  Established through Presidential Decree No. 1586, s. 1978, which is founded and based on the Section 4 of the Philippine Environmental Policy (PD 1151, s. 1977)
• All projects shall adhere to the requirements of PEISS and the other laws and regulations of the environmentally framework, which is in line with the principles of sustainable development to attain orderly balance between socio-economic growth and environmental protection
• Relevant laws and regulations

  • Presidential Proclamation No. 2146, s. 1981
  • Republic Act No. 7586 of 1992 (NIPAS Act)
  • Republic Act No. 11038 of 2018 (ENIPAS Act)
  • Republic Act No. 8371 of 1997 (Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act)
  • Republic Act No. 10066 of 2010 (National Cultural Heritage Act)
• Project Rationale


  Provides an explanation of why the project is required and a set of statements of purpose and significance of the project
• Project Location


  Indicates the affected area (e.g., barangays, city/municipality, province, region); must include Location Map with geographical coordinates
• Project Type and Size

  Extent of the project (e.g., length, width, Category of the Project)
• Land Classification


  A system for determining land of the public domain into forest land, mineral land, national parks, and agricultural land based on the 1987 Constitution
• Alienable and Disposable (A&D) Land


  Lands of the public domain which have been the subject of the present system of classification and declared as not needed for forest, mineral purposes or national parks
• Forest Land


  Areas needed for forest purposes
• Types of Forest Land

  • Protection Forest
  • Production Forest
• Land Use


  The manner of utilizing the land, including its allocation, development and management
• Land Cover


  Refers to the observed physical and biological cover of the Earth's surface and includes natural vegetation, abiotic (non-living) surfaces, and inland water bodies
• Topography


  The arrangement of the natural and artificial physical features of an area, includes the elevation or height above sea level
• Slope


  Refers to the extent that a soil surface has an incline relative to the horizontal. In percentage terms, slope represents the elevation that occurs between two different points
• Slope Classification


  • 0-3% (Level to nearly level)
  • 3-8% (Gently sloping to undulating)
  • 8-18% (Moderately Sloping to Rolling)
  • 18-30% (Rolling to Moderately Steep)
  • 30-50% (Steep)
  • ≥50% (Very Steep)
• Natural Hazards


  • Hydro-Meteorological Hazards (flood, rain-induced landslides, tropical cyclones, storm surges)
  • Seismic Hazards (nearest active fault, ground shaking, earthquake-induced landslide, liquefaction, tsunami)
  • Volcanic Hazards (nearest active volcano, ashfall)
• Pedology


  The Classification of Soils is determined through Land Resource Information System, conducted by the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM). Soils are classified according to their parent materials, location, relief, color, texture, depth, drainage, permeability, and fertility
• Slope Categories


  • Nearly level to undulating (0-8%)
  • Moderately Sloping to Rolling (8-18%)
  • Rolling to Moderately Steep (18-30%)
  • Steep (30-50%)
  • Very Steep (≥50%)
• Natural Hazards


  • Hydro-Meteorological Hazards (flood, rain-induced landslides, tropical cyclones, storm surges)
  • Seismic Hazards (nearest active fault, ground shaking, earthquake-induced landslide, liquefaction, tsunami)
  • Volcanic Hazards (nearest active volcano, ashfall)
• Hazard Maps available at HazardHunterPH - Hazard assessment at your fingertips (georisk.gov.ph) and GP (geoportal.gov.ph)
• Pedology


  The classification of soils based on their parent materials, location, relief, color, texture, depth, drainage, permeability, and fertility
• Soils are generally clustered as soils of the plains and valleys, soils in the intermediate uplands, and soil of hills and mountains
• Soil characterization


  • Determines the appropriate vegetation in an area
  • Assesses the future integrity of infrastructure projects and corresponding development constraints
• Soil Map available at GP (geoportal.gov.ph)
• Ecosystems


  • Terrestrial Ecosystem - land-based community flora and fauna
  • Marine Ecosystem - aquatic environments such as coastal zones, mangrove areas, swaps, estuaries, sea grasses, and coral reefs
• KBA Map available at GP (geoportal.gov.ph)
• Areas under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992, as amended by RA 11038 or the Expanded NIPAS Act of 2018 are under the provision of DAO 2019-05
• NIPAS Map available at GP (geoportal.gov.ph)
• Hydrology/Hydrogeology


  The distribution and movement of water both on and below the Earth's surface, as well as the impact of human activity on water availability and conditions
• Surface water


  • Freshwater (rivers, lakes, ponds, springs, wetlands)
  • Marine water
• Groundwater


  Water that infiltrates the ground (loose/porous such as gravel and sand); water that fills an underground water supply is an aquifer
• Baseline data in EIA for water

  • Watershed
  • Water resources (freshwater, marine water, and/or groundwater)
  • Receiving/Nearest water body that may be affected by the project
• Watershed


  An area of land that drains all streams and rainfall to a common outlet such as mouth of a bay of a reservoir
• Watershed Maps available at GP (geoportal.gov.ph), including Proclaimed Watershed and Critical Watershed
• Water Quality and Classification

  Discussion in EIA is under the provisions of the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 (RA 9275) and Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards of 2016 (DAO 2016-08), amended by DAO2021-19
• Freshwater Body Classifications


  • Class AA - Public Water Supply Class I
  • Class A - Public Water Supply Class II
  • Class B - Recreational Water Class I
  • Class C - Fishery Water, Recreational Water Class II, Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock Watering
  • Class D - Navigable waters
• Marine Water Body Classifications

  • Class SA - Protected Waters, Fishery Water Class I
  • Class SB - Fishery Water Class II, Tourist Zones, Recreational Water Class I
  • Class SC - Fishery Water Class III, Recreational Water Class II, Marshy and/or mangrove areas declared as fish and wildlife sanctuaries
  • Class SD - Navigable waters
• Water Quality Guidelines for Primary Parameters

  • BOD
  • Chloride
  • Color
  • DO (Minimum)
  • Fecal Coliform
  • Nitrate as NO3-N
  • pH (Range)
  • Phosphate
  • Temperature
  • TSS